Page 3 - Summer

July was hottest month on record by far, European scientists confirm

Now that July's sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organisation made it official: July 2023 was Earth's hottest month on record by a wide margin. July's global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019, Copernicus Climate Change Service, a division of the European Union's space programme, announced Tuesday. Normally global temperature records are broken by hundredths or a tenth of a degree, so this margin is unusual. These records have dire consequences for both people and the planet exposed to ever more frequent and intense extreme events," said Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess. There have been deadly heat waves in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, Europe and Asia. Scientific quick studies put the blame on human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Days in July hav

Summers in Arctic were ice-free over 100,000 years ago, finds research

A subpolar plankton species found in the Atlantic water expanded far into the Arctic Ocean during the Last Interglacial, indicating that summers in the Arctic were ice-free during this period. Published in Nature Geoscience, this research analysed the microfossil content of sediment cores to determine the extent of sea ice present during the Last Interglacial, a recent period of the Earth's geological history characterised by a climate warmer than today. The Arctic sea ice, an important component of the Earth system, is disappearing fast due to climate warming, whereas the summer sea ice is anticipated to vanish entirely within this century. To gain a deeper understanding of the climate dynamics in a world without the Arctic sea ice, researchers have turned to analogues from our geological past. However, the extent of sea ice during this period has been intensely debated and there is no consensus, limiting understanding of this period and the ability of researchers to simulate it i

July 2023 likely to be the warmest month on record, NASA scientist claims

He said it will be the hottest month in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years." The US space agency observed a spike in the temperature when the super El Nino event hit during the 2015-16 winter

China reaches a blazing 52.2 degrees celsius temperature in mid-July

China experienced 52.2 degrees celsius temperature on Monday, setting new records for mid-July. The other parts of the world are also struggling with searing temperatures

Cooler summer halts the dairy crisis, industry looks at a turnaround

What has caused this transformation and will it last? Milk industry veterans point to a couple of factors for this U-turn

Beijing orders outdoor work to be halted as scorching summer heat soars

Employers in Beijing were ordered on Thursday by the government to stop outdoor work after scorching summer heat in the Chinese capital was forecast to reach 40 degrees centigrade (104 Fahrenheit). Government departments were ordered to ensure the elderly and ill could stay cool after the city of 22 million people issued a red alert, the highest level of a warning system for extreme temperatures. The government reported on Monday that Beijing recorded 10 days of temperatures above 35 C (95 F), the longest streak of its kind since 1961. Relevant departments and units shall take emergency measures for heatstroke prevention and cooling, said a city government notice. It told employers to stop outdoor operations. At the same time, flooding has forced thousands of people to flee their homes in southern China. The government on Wednesday issued an alert for possible flash flooding in Inner Mongolia in the north, Heilongjiang in the northeast and Tibet and Sichuan in the southwest.

UK had the hottest June since 1884, unusual heat to become frequent

The UK sweltered through its hottest June since records began in 1884, the country's weather agency said Monday, adding that human-induced climate change means such unusual heat will become more frequent in the next few decades. The average temperature for June in the UK hit 15.8 degrees Celsius (60.4 Fahrenheit) 0.9 C hotter than the joint previous record of 14.9 C in 1940 and 1976, according to the Met Office's provisional figures. Meteorologists say that thanks to climate change, the chance of beating the previous joint record has at least doubled since the 1940s. Alongside natural variability, the background warming of the Earth's atmosphere due to human-induced climate change has driven up the possibility of reaching record high temperatures, said Paul Davies at the Met Office. By the 2050s, the chance of surpassing the previous record of 14.9 C could be as high as around 50 per cent, or every other year. Large areas of the country, from the Orkney Islands in northern Scotla

In a first since 2011, no heatwave recorded in Delhi this summer

Delhi's primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, has not experienced any heatwave this summer season. In fact, it is expected that there will be no heatwave until the end of June. This is quite unusual because since 2011, the observatory has always recorded at least one heatwave in summer, according to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) data. "The Safdarjung Observatory has not recorded any heatwave this summer season so far. Also, there will be no heatwave in the next seven days. Since 2011, this is the first summer without a heatwave in Delhi," said Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre. Meteorologists attribute the absence of heatwave days to excess rainfall due to higher-than-usual western disturbances -- weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India -- this summer season (March to June). According to the IMD's data, Delhi recorded 111 mm rainfall in May, 262 per c

Peak power demand in June may not touch 229GW mark due to unseasonal rains

Peak power demand is unlikely to touch or cross 229GW in summer this year due to unseasonal rains and the after-effects of cyclonic storm Biparjoy in the country, say industry experts. Industry experts said that the unseasonal rains have affected the demand and brought down temperatures during summer, resulting in fewer use of cooling appliances like air conditioners which guzzle power. The experts said that the peak power demand in the country is unlikely to touch or cross 229 GW level as projected by the Central Electricity Authority due to the impact of unseasonal rains and the cyclone. The power ministry in March had said that according to the Central Electricity Authority estimates the peak electricity demand was expected to be 229GW during April-June when the power demand is the highest in the country. But experts say that monsoon will be active in the entire country by July and the seasonal rains would again result in lowering the demand for power. The peak power demand met

Delhi gets taste of rain after hot day, more predicted later in week

Parts of Delhi, including Dwarka, received rainfall on Wednesday, despite there being no forecast for rains for the day. Delhiites are expected to get some relief from the punishing heat in the next few days with light rains and thundershowers in the offing, the weather office said. The maximum temperature is expected to be between 36 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius till June 20, it said. Delhi sweated under scorching heat on Wednesday with the maximum temperature settling at 40.9 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, and the minimum temperature being recorded at 29.7 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. The humidity levels oscillated between 43 per cent and 57 per cent throughout the day. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Thursday with the possibility of very light rain or thundershowers towards evening at one or two places. The city is likely to receive light rains or thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds

With record rainfall of 184.3 mm pre-season, Delhi gets cool start to June

June started on a cooler note in Delhi with overcast skies and the after-effect of rains over the last few days. The capital's primary weather station, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, six notches below normal. Generally cloudy skies, light rain and gusty winds are predicted during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 35 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Delhi recorded its coolest May in 36 years with excess rainfall bringing the average maximum temperature down to 36.8 degrees Celsius this time, according to the IMD. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of IMD, said Delhi had recorded an average maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius in May 1987. "The average maximum temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius in May this year is the lowest since then," he said. Delhi recorded maximum temperatures above the 40-degree mark for just nine days in Ma

Delhi records 'coolest' May in 36 years as excess rainfall drops mercury

According to IMD, only nine days in May saw maximum temperatures in Delhi exceed 40 degrees, with two days of heatwave conditions impacting specific areas of the national capital

Delhi to witness warm day, zero chance of rain; temp to cross 40-deg C mark

Delhi is likely to witness a warm Friday with the mercury expected to cross the 40-degree Celsius mark, the India Meteorological Department said. The weather office has predicted clear skies throughout the day in the national capital with zero chance of rain. The minimum temperature settled six notches below the average at 19.3 degrees Celsius. At 8.30 am, the relative humidity was at 58 per cent. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) around 9 am was recorded in the 'moderate' category with a reading of 191, SAFAR data showed. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Delhi likely to experience strong winds during day, min temp at 20.7 deg C

People in Delhi woke up to a pleasant morning on Tuesday with the minimum temperature settling at 20.7 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal. The India Meteorological Department has forecast strong surface winds during the day and the maximum temperature hovering around 38 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity on Tuesday morning was 64 per cent. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was in the 'moderate' category with a reading of 168 at 9 am. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Blistering heatwave continues to grip Asia in warning for the World

Temperatures in Thailand remained above 40C in many northern and central regions over much of last week, pushing power demand to a fresh peak

Max temp in Delhi likely to settle below 30 deg C for 4th consecutive day

Light rain and thundershowers are likely in Delhi on Wednesday and the city's maximum temperature is predicted to settle around 28 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The national capital's primary weather station, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded the maximum temperature at least 10 degrees below normal in the last three days owing to intermittent rainfall and cloudy weather under the influence of successive western disturbances. The maximum temperature settled at 28.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday and dropped to 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, making it the second coldest day in the month in 13 years. The city recorded a maximum of 28.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Another western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting May 5. Under its influence, cloudy skies and sporadic rain is predicted in the capital until May 7, an IMD official said. The maximum temperature is predicted to remain below 35 degrees Celsius until May 9. According to the

Pleasant morning in Delhi, weather office predicts thunderstorms with rain

Delhiites woke up to a pleasant morning on Monday with the minimum temperature settling at 19.6 degrees Celsius, six notches below the season's average. The relative humidity at 8.30 am stood at 87 per cent. The weather office has forecast thunderstorms with rain during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around the 26-degrees-Celsius mark. Light rain hit parts of Delhi on Sunday, bringing down the maximum temperature to 28.7 degrees Celsius, 10 notches below the season's average and the lowest in the month since April 4, 2015, the India Meteorological Department said. The city recorded a high of 26 degrees Celsius on April 4, 2015.

Humidity can complicate heat stress burden for Global South: Research

Researchers have found that heat stress burden, that comes with increasing temperatures, is not only dependent on local climate, but also on humidity, which can erase the cooling benefits that would come from trees and vegetation. Their study, led by Yale School of the Environment (YSE), US, investigated the combined effect of temperature and humidity on urban heat stress using observational data and an urban climate model calculation. The study is published in the journal Nature. As temperatures globally reach record-level highs and urban areas are facing increased heat stress, the Global South contends with an additional complicating factor - urban humid heat. Xuhui Lee, professor of meteorology at Yale, who directed the study, said that while urban residents are widely believed to suffer more heat burden than the general population owing to the urban heat island phenomenon, Lee calls it an incomplete view. This is because this view does not consider another ubiquitous urban ...

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Here's a list of do's and don'ts to protect, treat yourself from heatwave

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has come out with a list of do's and don'ts one can follow to protect oneself from the heatwave